Detachable limousine-body.



F. J. MOAVOY.

DBTAGHABLE LIMOUSINE BODY.

APPLICATION I'll ZED JULY 19, 1912.

Patented July M, 1914.

F. J. MTUAVOY:

DETACHABLE LIMOUSINE BQDY,

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1912 Patentw JulyM. 1914.

2 SHEETS-r8381 2.

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FRANK J. MGAVOY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LONDON AUTQ SHQPLY 00., 0F CI-IIGAGQ, ILLINOIS, A COBPORATIONOF ILLINOIS.

DETACHABLE LIMOUSINE-BODY.

icense.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented J 1113mm, 191-4 Applicaticn filed .l'uly 19, 1912. Serial No. 710,469.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK J. McAvoY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable Limousine-Bodies; and I dohereloy de-.

clare that the following is a full clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompany ng drawings, and

to the numbers of referencemarked thereon,

clement weather is limited, or, if the car heused, such use entails, frequently, discomfort and sufi'ering, and even may seriously endanger the health.

It is an object of this invention to afford adetachable limousine top adapted to be quickly applied and quickly removed from the ordinary touring body of an automobile, thereby enabling the owners of such cars to enjoy all the advantages to be derived through the ownership of .a separate limousine body, and thereby enabling the users to obtain more extended and satisfactory serv' ice from theircars by enabling the use thereof to be continued throughout the year.

It is an object of this invention to afford an exceedingly strong, simple and durable "construction of relatively light Weight as compared with the usual limousine body and affording all the advantages heretofore dcrivable only through the use of a limousine body.

It is an object of the-invention also to afford a construction whereby such a limousine top may be engaged upon a touring body. without the necessity of-defacing, injuring or changing either, and to afford a construction whereby the owner may install. such a limousine top upon the touring body w thout. expert assistance.

It is also an object'of the invention to afford such an engagement between the touring body and the limousine top embodying my invention. as to aii'ord practically a unitary structure. I

Further it is an object of thefinvention. to

' jocting slightly outwardly tli 'ere from.

aflord, for the purpose specified, a substantially strong, yet relatively light frame,

adapted to becovered by leather, pantasote or other suitable material, or lined with the same, thereby very greatly reducingthe weight heretofore deemed devices.

The invention (in'a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings, and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side eleva necessary fOI-i'SllGh tion of an automobile equipped'with a device I embodying my invention. --'Fig. 2 is a side. elevation of the 'frame'for the limousine top with the covering, thelining and the windows thereof removed. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2. on line 4*.4: of-Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sect-ion on Fig. 4; is a sectionline 55 of Fig. 2. Fig". dis a section online 6-6 of Fig; 2'. Fig. 7 is an enlarged,

fragnientary detail illustrating one of the attaching sockets.

. As shown in the drawings: 1, indicates the ordinary touring body, and 2, indicates as'a whole the limousine top secured thereto, and

affording together with the attaching means therefor, the subject matter of this invention. Said limousine top comprises a strong and substantial (though relatively light)- franie, constructed conveniently of wood, and comprisingwhat maybe termed a sill member 3, extending from the rear side of the rear door around the-rear of'the tonneau continuously and shaped to 'fit to the top of the touring body, as indicated in Figs. 1

. and 2, a like sill member 4, extending from thefront side of the rear door. forwardly to,

' or near the-front or fore door, and in a like manner a sill member 5, extending around the bend of the dash at the corners, and conforming thereto. Lining. said rear or tonneau-gill member'3, on the underside thereof, arid rabbeted thereinto, is' a steel "shoe or liner 6, which is letin to said sill sufiicientiy, to afford a smooth under finish, and isprovided on each side thereof with an attaching socket 7 corresponding in position, and adapted .to register-with the rear bracket for the cape top with which touring bodies are usually equipped, and which isjrigidly attached to 'thside of the tonnea u and roaid bracket socket is apex-cured o I'GCOIYQ the at taclnng boltS, theretluron j-gli for engag ng;

the bracket therewith. A similar socket member 9, is provided in said shoe or sill strap 6, near the rear bend or turn of the tonneau, and'rigidly engaged therein at its lower end, is an upwardly extending brace rod 10, hereinafter more fully described. As shown, the forward end 11, of the sill strap or shoe, at the forward end of the sill 3, is directed upwardly, and the rear post 12, for the rear or tonneau door, is rigidly secured thereto by means of screws or bolts. In a similar manner, the sill strap or shoe 13, for the intermediate sill section 4, is provided with a bracket socket 174, to receive the front bracket 15, for thecape top, and the ends of said sill straps are directed upwardly in parallel relation at each end thereof, and to the one is secured the front post 16, for the rear door, and to the other the rear post 17, for the fore door. rod or bar 18, is engaged along the front post 19, for the front fore door, and extends below the same and through the front sill section 5, and is adapted for engagement with a suitably shaped or with apertured lamp bracket such would ordinarily afford attachment for the side lamps with a touring body.

Extending longitudinally of the frame on each side thereof, and connecting said posts at the top, is the member 20, to which the upper ends of said posts are attached, and also'the posts 21, and 22, and the like, which are arranged to connect said sill and member around the rear end of the touring body, and at the 'rear thereof are spaced sudiciently apart to receive arear window therebetween. 'lhc brace bar 10, is engaged at its lower end in the socket I), of the sill plate or shoe, and at its upper end is provided with a T shaped head 23, which may be integral, if desired, and which is rigidly bolted to the member 20, one of said brace bars being used on each side of said frame, and affording a very rigid construction. Extending across said top, and rigidly secured on the members 20, at each of their ends, are the transverse top members 24:, which are suitably shaped to. afford the desired curvature of the roof both transversely and longitudinally, and over which may be drawn straps or battens 25, to support the fabric top when secured thereover.

Horizontal trimmers 26 and 27, may be 3 provided at the window openings above and below the Same, to afford the upper jamband sill for the'window, as desired, and to aiford any desired window opening. Upper door sections 28 and 29, are hinged in the limousine top independently of the door secti ns A and B, of the touring body, but are connected therewith to permit a single lock or latch to'open. both, or lock both sections of each door. The same, however, forms the subject matter of my application for patent In a sii'nilar manner, a

therefor, filed on the 3rd day of June, 1912, Serial No. 701,153, and forms no part of the present application.

The wind shield ordinarily used in connection with a touring body may be mm ployed, or a separate wind shield constructed 1 over the top brackets 8 and 15 respectively,

and securing it on the touring body and with the rods 18, extending-through suitable sockets or clamping onto the side lamp brackets, one on each side of the car. Suitable bolt-s 8 are then inserted. through the top brackets on said socket members, and are setup, rigidly engaging the top in place, and affording practically the same strength as though a unitary structure. Sections of the respective doors are next connected, so that-the opening of the door of the touring body, or the closing and locking thereof, similarly actuates the upper section or that of the limousine top.

The structure described, together with the weight of the touring body is much lighter than the weight of a limousine body as usually constructed, and the strength thereof is sufficient as to enable the same to withstand that injury in service or use to which a limousine body is likely to be subjected. Of course, the particular covering material and the particular lining will vary with the taste and preference of the owner. The construction described enables the gen- ,eral lines of the tonneau to be carried up in the limousine top, as indicated in Fig. 1, affording a very pleasing appearance.

I have described but a preferred form of my invention, and I am aware that details of construction may be varied through a wide range. I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted on this application, otherwise prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A removable limousine top for automobiles comprising sill members shaped to the outline of the top of an automobile than necessitated by the body, a shoe member rabbeted in each of said sill members flush therewith, and turned upwardly at the ends. of said sill members, attaching sockets afforded by said shoe members, upright supporting posts secured to said sill members, means rigidly securing the upturned end of said shoe members to the upright post occurring at the extremities of said sill members, and a roof structure supported on said uprightosts.

2. In a device of the class described the touring body, top brackets, a detachable limousine top removably engagedv thereon and embracing rabbeted sill members and upri 'ht posts connected therewith, a metallic Slll plate or shoe recessed into the sills on the under side thereof and extending from the rear door post at one side of the tonneau, 'around the tonneau, and to the other rear door post for the tonneau, the ends of said sill plate bent vertically upward above the sill and rigidly bolted to said door post, a corresponding sill plate or shoe recessed into the under side of the sill between the rear and fore doors, the ends thereof bent" upwardly and engaging the door posts for said doors rigidly to said sill sections, bends in said sill plates affording socket members adapted to receive the top brackets of the touring body thereinto, bolts engaging said brackets in said sockets, a socket in said plate or shoe near the rear bend or turn of the tonneau at each side thereof, a brace bar rigidly engaged therein at its lower, end, a T shaped head at the upper end of each rigidl bolted to the top of the frame, a rod or ar rig-,

idly engaged to the front post for thefore door and extending downwardly and 'engaged 1n p05ll31011, a fabric exterior and interior covering for the frame so formed,

windows therein, door sections hinged in said top to fit 'upon the door of the touring body, and connections between the door sections for each door whereby the opening or closing of the door of the touring body actuates the door as a whole.

8. In a device of the class described a frame shaped at its bottom to fit to the top of a touring body and having- Window and door openings therein, sill members-forming the body of said frame, sill plates se cured in said members, and at the door openings affording a rigid connection between the sill members and door post, integral socket members formed in said sill members corresponding with attaching brackets on the touring body and afi'ording means for engaging said frame rigidly thereto, a T- headed brace bar extending from the bottom tothe top of said frame'at each side the same, and rigidly engaging the same to' gether, the lower end of said brace bar rigidly engagintg means at the r rigidly engaging the same in position at each side of the car.-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK a. McAVOY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES W. HILLS, .ln, Gnoner R. Moonn.

said sill plate or shoe, and ont end of the frame for 

